Vitamins and minerals are essential to good health. They help build tissues and bones, transport and regulate our hormones, allow us to fight off infections and strengthen our immune systems. When we have a vitamin or mineral deficiency, it plays havoc with our bodies and our health. And the mineral magnesium is no exception.

The ultimate goal is balance. Eating too many alkalizing foods can lead to its own fair share of complications over time, but the risk of this is seemingly less likely, given the current sorry state of today’s highly addictive consumerist diet. To combat the effects of such a diet, here are six of the most alkaline-forming foods to work into your everyday meals.

Yeast is a microorganism that is within all people. Most of the time, there is no indication that yeast is even present in the body. In fact, one of the only reasons why an individual might be aware of it is when they crave sugar or carbs intensely. These cravings, if given into, can cause an overgrowth of a harmful yeast, Candida albicans.